Rotating Grids
Yohkoh Image
of a Flare in Hard X rays
Human beings have limited sensitivity ranges in their five senses. For example, dogs
have more sensitive noses for detecting faint odors. Bees can see in ultraviolet light
while humans can not. Bats and dolphins can hear at much higher frequencies than humans.
In order to extend the senses, humans have made devices that expand our sensitivity
ranges and report back in ways that we can perceive. HESSI is a device that attempts to
extend our vision to the most energetic X-ray and gamma-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The
acronym HESSI stands for High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager.
Scientists hope to give us X-ray pictures of the inner structures of solar
flares. To understand the problems of achieving that goal click links
1 through 5 below.
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